In France, Canada is represented by the Embassy of Canada in Paris. Canada also has consulates in Lille, Lyon, Monaco, Nice, St. Pierre et Miquelon, and Toulouse.
France is represented in Canada by an Embassy in Ottawa. France also has consulates in Calgary, Chicoutimi, Edmonton, Halifax, Moncton, Montréal, Québec City, Rouyn Noranda, Saint John, Saskatoon, St. John's, Sudbury, Toronto, Vancouver, Whitehorse, and Winnipeg.
For the past several years, bilateral relations between Canada and France have diversified and grown in importance. This is thanks in large part to effective cooperation on international issues and governance and social issues, including health, immigration policy, justice systems, development cooperation and state and fiscal reforms. Agreements between ministries and numerous government and parliamentary visits by the French to Canada and by Canadians to France are strengthening this partnership.
A permanent member of the UN Security Council, NATO and the G8, a founding nation of the European Union and lead partner in La Francophonie, France is a major international ally for Canada. France and Canada cooperate closely in foreign policy and have a common vision when it comes to international relations: a commitment to multilateralism, a focus on international security problems, promotion of democracy, human rights, good governance and development. Both countries are working closely together in the area of peacekeeping operations (Afghanistan, Haiti, Africa), development aid and also within La Francophonie and the G8.
The year 2008 marked an important milestone in the bilateral relationship between Canada and France with the celebration, on both sides of the Atlantic, of the 400th anniversary of the founding of Québec City. Numerous activities La Francophonie Summit in Québec City and the Canada-European Union Summit hosted in Canada during the French presidency of the European Union. Canada's Governor General Michaëlle Jean visited France in 2008 swiftly followed by a visit by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. French Prime Minister François Fillon and President Nicolas Sarkozy both visited Canada in 2008.
Many ceremonies were organized in April 2007, in France and Canada, to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge and the dedication of the newly-restored Canadian National Vimy Memorial. The year 2004 marked both the 400th anniversary of French presence in North America and the 60th anniversary of the Normandy landings.
Canada and France cooperate closely in academic relations. With 18 Canadian Studies Centres in France and more than 500 student exchange agreements signed between Canadian and French higher education institutions, France is the 3rd highest source for foreign students to Canada (and 1st among European countries). France is one of the most popular destination for Canadian post-secondary students, particularly among non-English-speaking destinations.
Since 2004, a Youth Mobility Agreement has facilitated the movement of Canadian and French nationals aged 18-35 to the other country. The programmes under this Agreement allowed up to 7,000 youth in each country to work or do internships in the other country for up to 12 months. In 2007, the 7,000 spots available to the French were filled at the end of May. To respond to this success, the quota was increased to 9,500 available spots for each side in 2008, and to 12,000 in 2009.
Trade relations between France and Canada are dynamic and diversified. France is Canada’s ninth-largest trade partner and one of its ten priority markets. In 2007, France ranked seventh as a target country for Canadian investment and fourth for foreign investment in Canada. One of the main instruments for strengthening trade and economic relations between the two countries is the Canada-France Economic Meeting, held every two years. The Canada-France Joint Action Plan, signed in the context of this meeting in 2008, aims to strengthen cooperation in the areas of competitiveness, innovation and science and technology, to support the objective of a closer partnership between Canada and the European Union, and to make institutional cooperation available to businesses, particularly SMEs.
